TikTok Coming Back To The US App Store And Google Play Store

TikTok can be downloaded again in the US (photo: dock. unsplash)

JAKARTA Once service providers are guaranteed to qualify from TikTok divestment rules, the app is starting to become available again in popular US app stores. TikTok can already be searched for and downloaded on the App Store and Google Play Store.

On January 19, TikTok had stopped operating in the US because of divestment rules signed by former President Joe Biden. On the same day, the app was removed from all app stores, including the App Store and Google Play Store.

Although the next day President Donald Trump issued an executive order to postpone the 75-day ban on TikTok, service providers are still afraid to bring the app back to their app stores.

This is because divestment rules force TikTok to part ways with ByteDance prohibit service providers from distributing the app. When the executive order was issued, the position of service provider had not been given clarity.

Once it is confirmed that service providers will not be asked to take responsibility for the circulation of applications in app stores, Apple and Google will only provide the application back. That way, the two companies will not be fined by the US government.

This is good news for TikTok who is trying to redistribute its app. In fact, before the app was available on the Google Play Store and App Store, TikTok presented the ability to download apps from their official websites for users in the US.

Unfortunately, this download capability only applies to Android users. The iPhone does not support sideloads or downloads from outside their app so iPhone users have to make a bailbreak if they want to download TikTok from the website.